The Pope County Quorum Court voted 7-6 Thursday night against an ordinance that would have established a county payroll department.

According to the ordinance - which Justice of the Peace Scott Simmons called "the final step in a long journey" prior to the vote - two employee positions would have been transferred from the treasurer's office to staff the payroll department. The department head base salary would be $27,000. The salary for the deputy payroll clerk will be $24,595.

The payroll department would have been funded through the treasurer's office until Jan. 1, 2005. At that time, the payroll department would be funded through a separate budget. The ordinance included an emergency clause, which was one of the reasons Justice Roger Freeman urged the court to vote against it.

Most of the comments made by justices prior to the vote referred to the point that the two women running for Pope County treasurer, Paula Coffman Lowe and Donna Wall, had expressed their desire to wait until the first of the year to determine if a separate payroll department was needed.

"When we started talking about this a year ago, we talked about a human resources department to sometime pick up the payroll," Roger Freeman explained. "Here it is less than a month before an election, and we're changing the job description of two employees. They (treasurer candidates) said they didn't want it changed.

"Second, we are declaring an emergency on this? We're not letting the public have any input? I Strongly urge the court to vote against this."

Burden said the county's employees needed a private area to discuss their issues, and later said a separate payroll department was what was best for Pope County.

"I've visited with both candidates for the office of treasurer, and they've told me to leave it as is," Jack Freeman responded. I don't see changing it now. We should wait until after the election to see whoever wins the election what they want to do."

Simmons explained the issue wasn't about the treasurer candidates, but the fact that the office was not abiding by federal law.

"This has everything to do with bringing Pope County into compliance with federal law," he said. "You cannot have medical and other information in the same folders. The treasurer's office is for payment and control of the county's money."

Larry Pettus agreed that the ordinance needed to be read three times, and an emergency clause wasn't necessary.

"I feel like the current treasurer (Gail Luttrell) is very knowledgeable on this," Justice Nell Warren said. "She made a good presentation to us. She knows of the problems, and she convinced me this is needed."

Simmons said at the end of Thursday night's 45-minute meeting that the Insurance, Personnel and Welfare Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to discuss health insurance and a possible county human resources department. The meeting will take place in the first-floor courtroom of the county courthouse.

Road funds

Instead of the previous $40,000 approved by the Budget Committee on Tuesday night, the court voted to transfer $25,000 from the county's General Fund to the Road Fund to cover increasing fuel costs.

Justices came to the conclusion that $25,000 should be transferred this month, wait until next month to see what happens with fuel prices and the General Fund's balance, and to transfer another $25,000 next month if it is needed.

"I support the road department, and I agree the cost of fuel is going up," Roger Freeman said. "But I can't see depleting the general fund at this time. I would agree to a lesser amount, and let's see what fuel costs are at a later time."

Judge Jim Ed Gibson said there was a little more than $45,000 in the General Fund. On Tuesday, Budget Committee members said there was approximately $47,169 remaining in the fund. The amended ordinance was approved unanimously.